I love a borrowed baby! They are the best kind.
Made our way down the nature trail to the harbor and watched the cruise ship unload. The restroom was a welcome sight near the farm and wheat thrasher barn. The kids had fun picking the wheat out of the stalk and munching it up in their teeth. The bus was full which would have whisked us back to the top of the property so we just walked up the nature trail. The cheeto colored mushrooms made up for the walking. We were a few minutes early for our tour and they are serious about not having you go in a minute before your ticket time so we walked through the flower garden and greenhouse side of the property. The gift shop was spotted and there was hardly any thinking about anything after that for Sadie. I told her I wanted to give her lots of time to look around in the gift shop so we had to wait until after out tour before going in. This held her off well.
A museum tour guide was chatting with us before we entered the house. James told us he had met lots of people from Salt Lake earlier in the week when the Mormon Tab Choir had come through town. Then he told me of the most memorable experience of his life was when the choir sang with the National Symphony for the inauguration of Reagan Reagan. He had been standing next to Ms. Reagan as her body guard and the choir was signing patriotic songs right behind him. He said it was so powerful and he has loved the choir since. I was delighted to get to tell him my mom had been there on that cold January morning and has shared how special that moment was for her many times as well.
We learned a lot about the Washington’s house and hosting patterns of the time. You could stay as a guest for a few months if you wanted and they were required by social custom to let you stay until you wished to leave. They had frequent and often visitors and Washington felt his house was more of a hotel than a home. They did have help caring for their guests by their slaves. The colors of the walls in his home are boisterous but that speaks to the time period. I was impressed with the wood working and the ceiling designs. Gorgeous inside and out but the most breathtaking point is the view out over the river. The mist just hangs on the air and today it felt like rain would start any moment yet never did. On our tour between the servant house and the main house we walked across a little bridge of sorts. Sadie spotted a little black snake poking its head out of a hold we were all walking above. While disconcerting to me it was the least bit worrisome to the workers at Mt. Vernon. Apparently snakes are common on and around the grounds. Maybe I won’t be moving in anytime soon.
The gift shop did not disappoint. Said found a key to the bastille she wanted to bring home with her, Ally found the liberty bell and Tyler picked out a puzzle. I found a fife, we will see if I can learn to play it or not. First attempt tonight was well, not so successful. Luckily the lady at the gift shop bought my story about leaving my wallet at home. I had written down my credit card number earlier when I was on the line with Hollie and she just typed that baby into her computer and it allowed us to take home our treasures. Glad I look trustworthy.
I thoroughly enjoyed driving up the tree lined highway back towards Hollie’s. Lots of snacking occurred on the drive home as I didn’t want to explain to the food guy I had left my wallet at home and could he type in my code as well. Driving home wasn’t bad- I did miss a turnoff onto Yale Ave but was successfully rerouted by my app and we made it home. I am always so grateful when we get to where we were intending to go. Everyone was starving even with all the snacking so we had a quick bean salad and shredded pork lunch at 3:00 in the afternoon. The fermented watermelon went along nicely with the meal.
A few more Beatles tunes on rock band and swimsuits were in order. The pool is about three doors away and perfectly sized for our little group. The cousins had a splendid time enjoyed the frigid water in the not so hot air. We have been lucky with the overcast weather this week. Best fourth of July week in DC maybe ever.
Ty food-Robot movie-walk through neighborhood-pop its-bath for the girls-stylin hair for Walker-bed
Driving down George Washington highway on my way to Mt. Vernon I had poetry floating through my brain. The gorgeous trees and misty air brought on prose worthy of Keaton. Driving and writing don’t work well but I tried hard to remember them this evening as I journaled. I’m afraid my words don’t do justice to the moment.
moist and misty sliceable atmosphere
tall green arms leaning and arching to protect us
rocking on the porch with my ghost father
(My father and I sat on the back porch of Mt. Vernon while Carter nursed years ago. We chatted for nearly an hour. The view off the porch is an incredible scene with such greenery and the Potomac River floating lazily by. The vision of this came rushing to my head as I was driving to Mt. Vernon today. It was such a sweet memory I nearly lost it and started crying.I was highly disappointed when I got to the back porch and they had replaced all the rockers with a row of screwed down standard chairs. There goes another memory.)
Saturday July 4 - Parade with bikes and scooters around the pond/pool area in Hollie’s neighborhood. Cute Walker hung out with me while Hollie marched the parade and took photos. Jozsef’s speaker brought a festive air of music to the parade. packing, Laura’s scavenger hunt, hugs and kisses, parting with those we love, Potbelly’s, gift shops, airplanes, Orlando, cold pizza, crying babies, home=Byron.
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